Irish journalists have pounced on an unconfirmed report that the late Archbishop John Charles McQuaid, a major figure in Church affairs as the Archbishop of Dublin from 1940 to 1972, was charged with sexual abuse.

The “Murphy Report” on the handling of sex-abuse complaints in the Dublin archdiocese was heavily critical of Archbishop McQuaid’s leadership, charging that he covered up evidence and downplayed reports of abuse. But the Irish Times escalated the criticism with a report that the archbishop, who died in 1973, was the unidentified cleric mentioned in the Murphy Report as the subject of two abuse allegations.

The Sunday Independent countered with a report that at least one complaint against Archbishop McQuaid was investigated by police more than 20 years ago and dismissed.

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